Museum takes young folk on a world musical journey

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery is launching a brand new programme of events introducing folk and world music to the under-fives.

‘Adventures in Music’ will take place on the last Friday morning of each month and feature live music and participation. Youngsters will be introduced to different types of music, instruments and cultures as they listen and learn together.

Many of the 45 minute events will take their inspiration from the Museum’s world cultures and social history collections.

The programme has been developed by independent live arts events producer Danielle Rose and is supported by PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Plus...UK - a creative and professional development programme that provides funding to enable organisations and music producers to work together to organise live music events and projects. Technical support and equipment are being provided by Deep Blue Sound Music.

The first Adventures in Music event will take place from 11am to 11.45am on Friday 26 April and is called ‘Sounds of Senegal’.

Children will be able to listen to a live music performance, learn and clap basic rhythm patterns, have a go at some simple dance moves and learn some of the key words in the Wolof language of Senegal. They will also discover how music fits into daily life in Senegal, learn about different tribes and their musical styles and hear the amazingly named nyckelharpa – a traditional Swedish instrument that looks a bit like a fiddle.

The Sounds of Senegal session will be led by Amadou Diagne and Griselda Sanderson. Amadou, who hails from Senegal, is a songwriter who plays the guitar and violin. His playing is strongly influenced by the Kora, a West African harp. Griselda has worked with a number of West and North African artists. Her solo album Harpaphonics was listed in the top 10 best world music albums of 2009 by The Sunday Times.

Tickets for the event cost £4.50 per adult and £3 per child. Places are limited and advance booking is strongly recommended. Tickets can be bought from the Welcome Desk between 10am and 4pm Tuesday to Saturday by cash or cheque or online at www.wegottickets.com. Additional children under the age of two will not need a ticket.

Full details of the Sounds of Senegal and other forthcoming Adventures in Music events can be found online at www.plymouth.gov.uk/museummusic or by calling 01752 304774.